The Ōpōtiki mayor will be doing "random checks" on businesses using QR codes to ensure her community is kept safe in light of recent community cases of Covid-19 in Northland.
Opotiki's mayor Lyn Riesterer scans in at Kafe Friends coffee cart in the Ōpōtiki CBD and would like the rest of the community to do the same. Photo: TROY BAKER / WHAKATANE BEACON
Ōpōtiki Mayor Lyn Riesterer said during summer Opotiki had received an influx of visitors and although this was great for the district, it did highlight the need to use the Covid tracer app and scan in at local businesses.
"I would like to reiterate the need for every business to have a QR code displayed at their front door and for people to ensure they are scanning in when they are visiting," she said.
"While we are fairly isolated, we do have people coming in from elsewhere in New Zealand so we can't get complacent. We need to keep ourselves and others safe."
Riesterer said, tongue in cheek, she would be doing random spot checks on businesses while out and about in the community.
She had already pulled up one business that had no QR code displayed and was instead using a small tatty notebook and the ink canister from inside a pen for people to contact trace.
For those who are struggling to obtain a QR code for their business, Riesterer said the staff at the Ōpōtiki Library were "well-versed" in obtaining them and would be happy to get online and help people get one.
She said library staff had already helped many businesses in the town to get their own unique QR code.
During last year's Covid lockdown, Ōpōtiki had one confirmed case.
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